OEX Hero vs Jetboil Zip: Two Compact Camping Stoves Compared

Introduction

Compact canister stoves solve one problem very well: they turn a small amount of gas into hot water and a hot meal without taking up much room in a pack. Two models that look almost like siblings sit at opposite ends of that market. The OEX Hero is a newer design aimed at campers who want a simple, affordable all-in-one setup. The Jetboil Zip is the established option, with a long reputation for efficiency and a slightly bigger pot.

Both stoves take a 100 g gas canister, both hold a dehydrated meal, and both work on the same principle: a burner screws onto the canister and a pot locks on top. The differences sit in the details, and those details matter more than the spec sheets suggest.

The sections below cover what each stove includes, how quickly they boil water in breezy conditions, and which one makes more sense depending on how you cook outdoors.

What These Two Stoves Have in Common

Both are all-in-one canister stoves built around a single pot. Each one swallows a 100 g gas canister and its own burner for transport, so the whole kit packs down into the pot itself. Measuring marks are etched inside both pots, which makes it easy to pour in the right amount of water without carrying a separate measuring cup.

Both pots comfortably hold a boil-in-the-bag meal: drop the pouch in, add a little water around it, bring it to a boil, and dinner is ready. Neither stove is aimed at elaborate camp cooking, and both are happiest boiling water. That shared focus is exactly why the comparison comes down to weight, capacity, ignition, accessories and price.

OEX Hero: Built-In Igniter and a Heat Exchanger Pot

The OEX Hero uses a 600 ml pot with fold-out handles and a neoprene insulated cozy wrapped around the outside. The cozy makes the pot comfortable to pick up and helps hold heat in while the water boils. The base of the pot has a built-in heat exchanger, claimed to improve boil efficiency by around 30 percent, and because the exchanger is fully enclosed it also helps shield the flame from wind.

The burner screws directly onto the gas canister and the regulator folds in for storage. A piezo igniter is built into the stove, so there is no need to carry a lighter or matches for lighting. The pot drops onto the burner with a twist and locks in place, and it feels sturdy even without a canister support, although a support is worth adding on uneven ground.

Weight sits at around 370 g. The lid is stiff and includes a steam vent, a draining vent and a lip guard, so the pot can be used as a mug without burning your lips. A generous mesh bag is included, with room for the stove, the canister and a little extra such as coffee or a dehydrated meal. A canister support is not included, and the OEX branded version sells for around £6.50.

The stated boil time is 500 ml in 2 minutes. In breezy conditions, 400 ml reached a rolling boil in 2 minutes 10 seconds, with fuel use quoted at 5.9 g of gas per 500 ml. The Hero is sold at Go Outdoors and Blacks, with availability expected around April or early May, priced at £45 with a Go Outdoors membership card and around £50 as an introductory price at Blacks.

Jetboil Zip: Lighter, Larger, and Well Established

The Jetboil Zip follows the same formula with an 800 ml pot, 200 ml more capacity than the Hero, at around 350 g, which is roughly 25 g lighter. It also includes a small cup that clips onto the base of the pot. The cup carries measuring marks, though it feels fairly flimsy, and the cutouts in it make it less comfortable to drink from than a proper mug. Measuring marks are also etched inside the pot itself.

The Zip comes with a canister support in the box, so no extra purchase is needed to use it on softer or uneven ground. It does not have a built-in igniter, so a match or lighter is required to light it. Jetboil stoves have a strong reputation for gas efficiency, and a 100 g canister is quoted as boiling around 10 litres of water.

In the same breezy conditions, 400 ml took 2 minutes 39 seconds to boil, roughly 30 seconds slower than the Hero. The Zip is commonly seen for around £75, though most listings sit higher than that.

Boil Times and Fuel Use in Real Conditions

On paper, the two stoves are close. In practice, the Hero boiled 400 ml in 2 minutes 10 seconds while the Zip needed 2 minutes 39 seconds, both on a day with a noticeable breeze. Boil times always shift with temperature, altitude and wind, and the Hero’s enclosed heat exchanger appears to give it an edge when the weather is working against you.

Fuel figures are similarly tight. The Zip’s 100 g canister is quoted at around 10 litres of boiled water, while the Hero is quoted at 5.9 g of gas per 500 ml, which works out slightly less efficient but only by a small margin.

Over a weekend trip, that difference amounts to a gram or two of gas, which is unlikely to change how you pack. For most campers boiling water and rehydrating meals, either stove will get through a short trip on a single small canister.

Optional Extras Worth Knowing About

Accessories are where the two stoves diverge more clearly. The Zip ships with its canister support, while the Hero’s support is a separate purchase at around £6.50. Jetboil also offers an additional pan support that turns the Zip into a stove capable of holding a frying pan for bacon or eggs.

There is no equivalent OEX accessory. The Jetboil pan support can be placed on the Hero, but it rests slightly on the igniter, so it may need minor adjustment before it sits properly. Anyone planning to fry as well as boil should factor that into the decision.

Buying Advice

If the goal is simply boiling water or rehydrating a meal, the OEX Hero is hard to argue with at £45 with a Go Outdoors membership card. It brings a built-in igniter, a heat exchanger pot, a useful mesh bag and a boil time that matched or beat the Zip in breezy conditions, all for roughly half the typical price of the alternative.

The Jetboil Zip still earns its place for campers who want the larger 800 ml pot, the lighter weight, an included canister support and the option of adding a pan support for frying. It also has the longer track record and the wider accessory ecosystem.

The trade-off is price. The Zip is commonly seen around £75, with most listings sitting above that, against roughly £45 to £50 for the Hero. Matching the stove to how you actually cook outdoors matters more than any single specification here.

Conclusion

Both stoves do the same job, and both do it well. The OEX Hero is the better value pick for straightforward boiling and rehydrating, with a built-in igniter, an efficient heat exchanger pot and a lower price. The Jetboil Zip remains the more flexible choice, with a bigger pot, lighter weight, an included canister support and a frying pan option. Buy the one that fits your camp kitchen, not the one with the longer spec sheet.